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A wide choice of topics covered from the dawn of history right up to present days . Many of these have a wider relevance than purely within the context of Strathearn . The author's viewpoint often is at variance with the accepted opinions espoused elsewhere eg The Jacobite Uprisings and The Reformation .

QueenVictoria's Visit To Crieff in 1842

My last two Blogs have looked at the 1745 Jacobite Rising with
a particular relevance to Crieff and Strathearn. The aftermath saw a vicious
retribution against the Gàidhealtachd- the
Gaelic speaking areas of Scotland and those lands on the periphery. Apart from the mass
killing of prisoners – many of the Jacobite persuasion were transported to the “colonies
“and their homes were burned to the ground. Contraryto whathasbeenwritten about Strathearn andthe
general attitudetowards the “ rebels “
by , in mostcases, Presbyterian clerics ,
it isclear that therewasconsiderable support in this areafor the Rising . The list of Jacobite prisoners has been published and
part was included in my previous Blog . Crieff and Strathearn worthies like the
local doctor and the postmaster were
some of the oneswho took up arms as well as a host of
weavers , farmers and farm workers . Most of the local lairdswere Jacobitesympathisers and as a consequence
theirlands were forfeited by the Hanoverian
Government . The Act of Proscription passed in 1746 included a new section,
which became known as the Dress Act, banned the wearing of "the Highland
Dress", use of bagpipes and Highland music and song. Provision was also included to protect those involved in putting
down the rebellion from lawsuits. Measures to prevent children from being
"educated in disaffected or rebellious principles" included a
requirement for school prayers for the King and Royal family.

The most severe penalties, was a minimum six months
incarceration and transportation to a penal colony for a second offense which made
these the most severe portions of this Act.The Act of Proscription was
followed by the Heritable Jurisdictions (Scotland) Act 1746 which removed the
feudal authority the Clan Chieftains had enjoyed. Scottish heritable
sheriffdoms reverted to the Crown, and other heritable jurisdictions, including
regalities, came under the power of the courts. They were finally repealedin 1782.

The Commissioners of the Forfeited Estates took over the
Drummond Estates and we still have evidence of this in Crieffwhen the Old Feuswas renamed Commissioner Street (as it is to
this day) . Despite the severity of the Act of Parliament , the benefitsto Crieff in the longerterm were appreciable . Grants weremadeto weavers to enable them to purchase a “ feu “ – a plot ofground in perpetuitywith enough groundto build a house with aweaving/spinning shed , an area to grow tatties
( potatoes ) and keep a pig ! Wood’s map of Crieff drawn
in 1822 showsclearlythe variousplots that were grantedtogether with
the names of the current proprietors . These areasinclude Burrell Street , King Street and
Commissioner Street . The mapcanbeviewedon theinternet on the National Library of Scotland
site : http://maps.nls.uk/view/74400016 . It
can be simply enlarged to viewall
inclose detail.

It should be pointedout en passant that the repeal
of the Acts wasgreatly attributable to thatmuch maligned political rogue Viscount Melvillewhose distinctive obelisk loomsdown on thevillage of Comrie !

The following little narrative describes the young Queen Victoria and Prince Albert on
theirvisit to Strathearn in 1842less than 100 years after the ’45 Jacobite
Uprising . It isclear thanthey were extremely popularand therewasno apparent animosityto their visit . We knowfrom earlierstudies and coverage in my last Blogthat Victoria hadno sympathy forher great grand uncle William , Duke ofCumberland better known as “ Butcher “
Cumberland . Her predecessor on the thronewas her Uncle , William lVwho
with her grand father, George lll haderected equestrian statues in
memory of the infamous Duke inWindsorGreat Park and in London .
On Victoria’s instructionsthesewere removedleaving only the bases with the inscriptionsduly obliterated .Theauthor Lytton Stratchey in his book” Queen Victoria “ wrote thus :

“Upon the
interior decorations Albert and Victoria lavished all their care. The wall and
the floors were of pitch-pine, and covered with specially manufactured tartans.
The Balmoral tartan, in red and grey, designed by the Prince, and the Victoria
tartan*, with a white stripe, designed by the Queen, were to be seen in every
room: there were tartan curtains, and tartan chair-covers, and even tartan
linoleums. Occasionally the Royal Stuart tartan appeared, for Her Majesty
always maintained that she was an ardent Jacobite.”

(as published originally in Crieff in the Victorian Era by " Dixon " in 1897 )

Queen Victoria along with Prince Albert visited Crieff on the
10th September 1842, and one can imagine what excitement the arrival
of the Royal pair causes among all classes in the district. When the sun rises
the people are doing their utmost to decorate their houses. Some work out all
manner of designs on the front wallsof
their premises, place a wreath of evergreens here, and a festoon of heather and
roses there, and fasten a Union Jack at the chimney- top. The town, for once in
its life is in a hurry: and in their anxiety to surpass one another in their
efforts at adornment, the people run in each other’s way and create a most
unnecessary stir. All over the town decorations are general- flags of every
nation, shape and colour are to be seen – but it is along the route of the
procession that the most extensive decorations are to be found. At the entrance
to Burrell Street a splendid arch is placed, and right down to the Bridgend,
the houses look quite gaudy with their floral embellishments. As far as the
weather prospects, they are not particularly bright, but the people hope for
the best.

In the morning thousands of country people file into the town
from all quarters – some have been on the walk most of the night- and before
mid-day the place is thronged with an anxious and excited crowd. Travelling
minstrels reap a good harvest, and the pubs do a roaring trade. To permit of
the Queen and her Consort proceeding in comfort, all thee entrances to Burrell
Street and the Bridgend are barricaded, and special guards regulate the
traffic. At different points on the route platforms are raised, and when the
Sovereign Queen is expected they are packed with loyal lieges. Up and down the
street, guards, in their gay uniforms, pace about, fully conscious of their
importance, and keep order among then crowd, who as time wears on , get
impatient by the non- arrival of the procession. The people have a long wait.
Three, four,five o’clock in the
afternoon , and still no Queen in sight .

Meantime, a nipping breeze rises to cool the ardour of the multitude
and the sky becomes over cast. It is nigh six o’clock before the people become
acquainted with the fact that the Royal party are at hand. As the cannon ay
Ochtertyre volley forth allegiance to the Queen and country, the vast crowds
who assemble along the routeraise a
loudand prolonged cheer, and patiently
await events .Lord Willoughby de Eresby , mountedon a beautiful whitecharger remainsat the entranceto Drummond Estatetill the Royal equipageand mounted guardscross the bridge of turret : and , after
paying the respectsdue by his rank , he
wheelsround and leads the procession.

Right along the top of Burrell Street both sidesof the road are linedwith an anxiouscrowd of spectators, and as the royal
visitors pass along , they are loudly cheered .Her Majesty smilesand looks pleasant , and sweetlybows hr acknowledgements on all sides .
Prince Albert makes an effort toappear
happy , and raises his hat to all and sundry .When they reach the floral arch at the West Church the cheers of the
peopleecho and re – echo far and wide :
and rain, which now begins to fall , keeps the soundfrom going any further . With the windand rain it is fearedHer Majesty My catch cold and ordersare heregiven for the horsesto be driven
atthe trot.

So away the Royal equipageswings down Burrell Street . The people cheer till they are hoarse, and
before the Gallowhill is reached – where the Laird of Broich puts in his
appearance – there is roaring, shouting and cheering enough to deafen all the
crowned heads of Europe. But the gracious andbeloved Queen appreciates the reception , and so does Prince Albert, and
they bow right and left in all directionswhence cometh the noise . The Broich leads the way to the Earn Bridge,
but after that Lord Willoughby again heads the procession, and when they pass
on o South Bridgend, Lady Baird and her tenants, salute the Royal pair.

By this time the rain is falling heavily, and the carriage is
closed .What a disappointment this is to thousands of people who are waiting on
the Muthill road. The Queen, however, likeevery other body, knows what a cold is , and she suits her convenience ,
as everybody should on holiday. The horses charge through another floral arch, along
the Muthill road, and up the long avenue, and, after some ceremony of more or
less importance, the Queen and the Prince consort are conducted through the
castle gates into their apartments.

When darkness creeps in, bonfires blaze from every hill- top,
and the sky from end to end is brightly illuminated. In Crieff every window is
lighted up and gaudy lamps swing at every door. Till midnight, the people
wander about the streets admiring the brilliant spectacle, and sorry they are
the nightso quickly passes.

The Royal couple remain at Drummond Castle till the following Tuesday.
For the time being, everything at the castle is conducted on a scale of the greatest
magnificence. A military band plays at intervals; the skirl of the bagpipes is
heard at every corner, and Gaelic speaking kilted retainers guard the castle gates.
The Royalties dine in a large marquee, filled with the silver plate of generations.
In the afternoon the Queen walks in the garden and Prince Albert goes deer stalking.
In the evening Her Majesty dances with Lord Willoughby, to the merry strains of
“ Meg Merrilees “, and at nightshe
sleeps on a bedmade from thethrone of her great – great- grandfather .

INCIDENTS
OF THE DAY

As may be expected on such an occasion, there is always something
goes wrong .In the morning, the marquee poles refuse to fit, and to ll appearance
the erection of the tent the night before is hopeless. And it is here the Royal
pair are to dine. Lord Willoughby, who personally superintends the arrangements,
watches the men as they endeavour to get the marquee into position, and beholds,
with annoyance the fruitless efforts in that direction. Turning to the factor
he declares – “The Queen will dine in heaven before she will dine here tonight “.
The factor calmly replies – “Her Majesty will dine here tonight, my Lord, whether
she dines in heaven or not”, and he keeps his word.

While the procession is proceeding down Burrell Street, the
loyal weavers sit in all conspicuous places to view the Royalties as they pass.
Some sit on the riggings of houses, some on the heads of chimneys, and a few
take up sites on the Well in Burrell Square. What they expect to see cannot be definitely
described, but it may be said, that hopes of crowns and sceptres are not beyond
the reach of their imagination. When the Queen reaches the centre of Burrell Square,
a worthy weaver turns from the crowd in utter disgust, and sarcastically
remarks to his friends –“Hum, she’s only a woman “.

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Retired part time lecturer at Perth College and former rugby correspondent to our local paper the Strathearn Herald .Former President and a Honorary Member of Crieff & Strathearn Rugby Club. Written 4 books on the local history of Strathearn .